Inhibitor for viral replication

ABSTRACT

A pharmaceutical agent which inhibits a replication of virus by increasing the specific enzymatic activity of liver and/or other tissue is offered. 
     A viral replication inhibitor which contains N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) or gene thereof as an effective component. Examples of the gene are that which contains a sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 (length: 1,608) or by SEQ ID NO:2 (length: 1,593) in the Sequence List, that which is prepared by hybridization of it and codes for a polypeptide having a GnT-III activity or a functionally same activity and that in which the above is further integrated in vector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical agent which inhibits replication of virus by increasing a specific enzymatic activity of liver and/or other tissues.

2. Description of the Related Art

Virus has glycoproteins and glycolipids in viral membrane. Glycolipids are derived from cell membrane of host cells while the protein part of glycoproteins is a virus-specific gene product. Sugar chains are added to the protein part in the Golgi apparatus of host cells and, in this process, a viral enzymatic system is not used but an enzymatic system of the host cells is used. For example, there is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) which is a disease where a kind of retrovirus called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects mainly on cells in which molecules of CD4 are expressed whereby CD4-positive T cells are significantly decreased and, in infection of HIV, molecules of gp120 which is a virus envelope glycoprotein play an important role. About one half by weight of the gp120 molecules is occupied by sugar chains and there have been various reports on the importance of those sugar chains during the course of infection of HIV. For example, it is reported that the gp120 molecule lacking the sugar chain loses an ability of binding with CD4. It is also reported that syncytia are formed when HIV-infected cells are cultured together with uninfected cells and that addition of molecules of gp120 inhibit said syncytium formation while addition of molecules of gP120 lacking sugar chains does not cause an inhibition. It is further reported that both E1 and E2 which are thought to constitute the envelopes of human hepatitis C virus (HCV) are glycoproteins and both of them have no sialic acid residue at the end of the sugar chain but a few of them have N-acetylglucosamine residue at the end. Accordingly there is a possibility that liver is infected with HCV via asialoglycoprotein receptor on hepatic parenchymal cells or via mannose-binding protein found in hepatic endodermic cells or macrophage. Furthermore, human hepatitis B virus (HBV) has glycoprotein called an HBs antigen on the surface of its particle where said protein has two N-glycans linked type and it is reported that those sugar chains play an important role in each of the steps of viral replication, translocation and secretion.

Up to now, there have been shown several possibilities of antiviral agents where attention is paid on the sugar chains of those viral glycoprotein. For example, it is reported that syncytium forming ability and virus infecting ability disappear in HIV-infected cells which are cultured in the presence of an inhibitor for N-glycan processing enzyme such as tunicamycin. For example, there is a report on the inhibition of secretion of human HBV by N-butyldeoxynojirimycin which is an iminosugar [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A., 91, 2235-2239 (1994)].

However, a treatment by such an N-glycan processing inhibitor disturbs glycosylation of the host cells and, therefore, the sugar chain structure of glycoprotein of the host cells is naturally affected to a great extent and that is never satisfactory in view of safety.

During the course of studies on the structural change of sugar chain on the cell surface, the present inventors succeeded in obtaining N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) of rat and human (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications Hei-6/38,767 and European Patent No.585083). This enzyme produces the so-called bisecting GlcNAc, i.e. a GlcNAcβ 1-4Manβ 1 structure of N-glycan.

The present inventors have found already that, in an experimental system using LEC rats which give a natural onset of hepatitis and hepatic cancer, activity of N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase V (GnT-V) and that of GnT-III significantly increase as compared with the use of LFA (a control rat) in the third stage which is a stage of onset of hepatitis and in the fourth stage where cancer tissues are macroscopically observed in liver, respectively. It has been also found that this GnT-III rarely appears in normal liver but, in a chemical carcinogenic process in rat, the activity increases in cancerous site, precancerous change site, cells derived from ascitic cancer, fetal liver, regenerated liver, etc. It has also been disclosed by the present inventors that an expression of enzymes in a serum of a patient who is suffered from hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis, tissue of hepatic cancer, or hepatic diseases thereof is increased. [Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 152, 107-112 (1988); Clinica Chimica Acta, 185, 325-332 (1989)].

As mentioned already, it has been known that the activity of glycosyltransferase changes in virus-infected cells. However, no method in which such a phenomenon is utilized as a site of action whereby replication of virus is inhibited and viral diseases are treated has been developed yet.

As a result, object of the present invention is to offer a pharmaceutical agent in which a specific enzymatic activity in liver and/or other tissue is increased so that replication of virus is inhibited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inhibitor for viral replication and it is characterized in that GnT-III or its gene is used as an effective component.

The present inventors have conducted an intensive study for a relation between viral infection and glycosyltransferase activity and, as a result, they have unexpectedly found a surprising fact that, when GnT-III in which the degree of progress of stages in hepatic diseases has a positive relationship with an enzymatic activity is introduced into the cells infected with HBV, expression of HBV gene in said cells is inhibited. Based on this finding, the present invention has been achived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a restriction enzyme map of the pCAGGS vector.

FIG. 2 shows a scheme of GnT-III expressed plasmid Act-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this specification, a polypeptide having a GnT-III activity covers not only the GnT-III of a natural type but also a polypeptide in which the amino acid sequence of a natural type is modified by deficiency, addition, insertion, substitution, etc. of amino acid residues so far as said polypeptide has a GnT-III activity.

The GnT-III of a natural type referred to hereinabove is exemplified by that which is derived from human or rat although the present invention is not limited thereto but it covers that which is derived from other animals and plants as well as from microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes, filamentous fungi, ascomycetes, basidomycetes, etc.

Further, polypeptide having the functionally-same activity as referred to in the present invention means the following.

In the protein which is present in nature, mutations in its amino acid sequence may take place by deficiency, insertion, addition, substitution, etc. of amino acids due to polymorphism and mutation of genes which code for the protein and also due to modification reaction in vivo and in vitro. It is however known that, in spite of the above, there are still certain substances which have substantially same physiological and biological activities as the protein having no modification. Such a substance which differs in terms of structure but has no big difference in terms of function is called a polypeptide having a functionally-same activity.

Even when the mutation as mentioned above is artificially introduced into the amino acid sequence of protein, the same thing occurs as well and, in that case, it is possible to prepare far more varieties of mutants. But, so far as they show the substantially same physiological activity as that which has no mutation, those mutants are still interpreted as the polypeptides having the functionally same activity.

For example, methionine residue existing in an N terminal of protein expressed by Escherichia coli is said to be removed, in many cases, by the action of methionine aminopeptidase but, depending upon the type of the protein, both products with and without the methionine residue are produced. However, there are many cases where the presence or absence of the methionine residue does not affect the activity of the protein. It has been also known that the polypeptide in which certain cysteine residue in the amino acid sequence of human interleukin 2 (IL-2) is substituted with serine maintains an IL-2 activity [Science, 224, 1431 (1984)].

In addition, in the production of protein by means of gene engineering, it is often conducted to express said protein as a fusion protein. For example, it has been conducted in increasing the representation of a desired protein in such a manner that an N terminal peptide chain derived from other protein is added to the N terminal of the desired protein or that N terminal or C terminal of the desired protein is expressed by adding a suitable peptide chain, and a carrier which has an affinity to this added peptide chain is used whereby purification of the desired protein is made easier.

It has been further known that there is/are 1-6 kind(s) of codon (a combination of three bases) specifying an amino acid on the gene for each kind of the amino acids. Accordingly, gene which codes for amino acid sequence may be present in large numbers although that will depend upon the amino acid sequence. In nature, gene is not always present stably and occurrence of mutation in nucleic acid thereof is not rare. In some cases, a mutation which occurred on gene does not give rise to a change to the amino acid sequence to be coded (this is called a silent mutation) and, in that case, it can be said that a different gene coding for the same amino acid sequence was formed. Accordingly, even when a gene which codes for a specific amino acid sequence is isolated, a possibility of formation of many kinds of genes coding for the same amino acid sequence upon a passage of living organisms containing said gene cannot be denied.

Moreover, it is not difficult to artificially prepare many kinds of gene coding for the same amino acid sequence if various gene engineering means are applied.

For example, when the codon used on an inherent gene coding for the desired protein in the production of protein by gene engineering means is that which have low frequency of use among the hosts used, then there are some cases where expression of the protein is low. In such a case, it has been conducted for attempting a high expression of the desired protein that the codon is artificially converted to that which is often used by the host without changing to the coded amino acid sequence. Needless to say, it is possible to artificially prepare the gene which codes for a specific amino acid sequence as such. Accordingly, even such an artificially prepared and different polypeptide is included in the present invention so far as the amino acid sequence disclosed in the present invention is coded therefor.

Further, there is not a few cases where a polypeptide wherein at least one of deficiency, addition, insertion and substitution of one or more amino acid residue(s) is conducted to the amino acid sequence of the desired protein has the functionally same activity to the desired protein. Gene which codes for such a polypeptide is also covered by the present invention independently of being prepared either naturally or artificially.

Usually, there are many cases that, in the case of polypeptides having the functionally same activity, genes coding for them are homologous. Accordingly, the gene which can hybridize with the gene used in the present invention and which codes for a polypeptide having a GnT-III activity is included in the present invention as well.

The present invention will be illustrated in detail as hereunder.

In the present invention, the object can be achieved by introducing GnT-III into the cell infected with HBV. In introducing GnT-III, the GnT-III maintaining its activity may be directly introduced into the cells infected with HBV by, for example, a microinjection method or, alternatively, the GnT-III gene is introduced into the cells infected with HBV using virus or the like to express the GnT-III whereby an object of the present invention can be achieved.

Thus, when the pharmaceutical agent of the present invention is used, GnT-III or the gene which codes for GnT-III can be introduced into virus-infected cells or other tissues whereby replication of the virus can be inhibited. GnT-III or the gene coding for GnT-III may be directly injected into the affected part on the tissue surface. Alternatively, a drug delivery system (DDS) where it can be directly injected into the affected part inside the tissue may be applied too. The DDS may be a system which is specific to virus-infected cells.

When a pharmaceutical agent of the present invention containing GnT-III or gene thereof is applied to virus-infected cells or other tissues, it goes without saying that said pharmaceutical agent is made in such a manner that said agent displays the effect most efficiently.

The virus replication inhibitor in accordance with the present invention may contain GnT-III or gene thereof within a pharmaceutically acceptable range and can be made into pharmaceutical preparations by the same manner as in the case of common gene therapeutic agents and protein-containing agents. The pharmaceutical preparation may contain carriers, fillers, stabilizers, etc.

Dose of GnT-III or gene thereof which is used as a virus replication inhibitor of the present invention may be adjusted by taking the state of the patient such as age and body weight and degree of the affected part into consideration.

GnT-III or gene thereof contained in the virus replication inhibitor of the present invention is an intravital substance and has no toxicity.

With respect to GnT-III which is used in the present invention, its detailed properties have been clarified already and can be prepared, for example, from kidney of rat by the steps as mentioned in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Steps           Specific Activity (nmole/mg/h)                                 ______________________________________                                         1. Homogenate   2.16                                                             2. Extraction with Tritone 8.94                                                3. QAE-Sepharose 42.1                                                          4. Hydroxyappatite 74.6                                                        5. Cu.sup.2+ Chelating Sepharose 248                                           6. ConA Sepharose 578                                                          7. Cu.sup.2+ -Chelating Sepharose 820                                          8. UDP-Hexanolamine Agarose 7,230                                              9. Gn,Gn-bi-Asn Sepharose 331,000                                            ______________________________________                                    

[In the above table, Gn,Gn-bi-Asn Sepharose is an abbreviation for GlcNAcβ 1-2Manα 1-6(GlcNAcβ 1-2Manα 1-3)Manβ 1-4GlcNAcβ 1-4GlcNAc-Asn. Activity of GnT-III was measured by a method mentioned in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1035, (3) 313-318 (1990) using 80 μM of a fluorescent substrate while specific activity of the enzyme was expressed in terms of the transferred GlcNAc(mole)/protein(mg)/hour(h) using pyridyl(-2-)aminated GlcNAc as a standard substance. Protein was measured by a BCA kit (manufactured by Pirce) using serum albumin as a standard substance.]

Said gene can be prepared, for example, from human fetal liver cDNA library by a method of Ihara et al [Journal of Biochemistry, 113, 692-698 (1993)]. In addition, the gene which is prepared, for example, from cDNA library of kidney of rat by a method of Nishikawa et al [Journal of Biological Chemistry, 267, 18199-18204 (1992)] can be a suitable experimental material in the study of inhibition of replication of HBV.

Moreover, GnT-III of rat, for example, may be prepared by a method mentioned in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Hei-6/38,767 using a strain FERM BP-4352 (this strain was named and indicated as Escherichia coli XL1-Blue SV3, deposited in the Biotechnology Research Institute, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan [1-3, Higashi-1-chome, Isukuba City, Ibaragi Prefecture, Japan (Post Office Code: 305)] on Jan. 22, 1992 as FERM P-12718 and transferred to an international deposit in accordance with the Treaty of Budapest from the original deposit by the above-mentioned Biotechnology Research Institute, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, MITI).

Further, with respect to human GnT-III for example, it can be prepared by a method mentioned in the European Patent No. 585083.

In SEQ ID NO:1 and 3 of the Sequence Listing, DNA sequence of the gene coding for GnT-III of rat and amino acid sequence thereof, respectively, are given. In SEQ ID NO:2 and 4 of the Sequence Listing, DNA sequence of the gene coding for human GnT-III and amino acid sequence thereof, respectively, are given. When such a gene is used as probes, it is possible to prepare a gene which hybridizes to said gene and codes for the protein showing a GnT-III activity. It is also possible to prepare a gene which hybridizes to the gene shown by SEQ ID NO.1 or 2 of the Sequence Listing and codes for the protein showing a GnT-III activity by subjecting the gene represented by SEQ ID NO.1 or 2 of the Sequence Listing to gene engineering substitution, mutation, scission and the like.

Such genes and expression proteins of said genes may be used as a pharmaceutical agent of the present invention as well.

When the GnT-III of the pharmaceutical agent of the present invention is introduced into cells using the gene itself, it is possible to easily introduce the GnT-III gene using, for example, a recombinant vector having GnT-III and regulatory gene related thereto. It is of course also possible to use effective promoters other than the promoter for GnT-III itself such as SV40 promoter, retrovirus-derived LTR promoter, heat shock promoter, metallothionein promoter and actin promoter.

In an introduction of the GnT-III gene, vector containing said gene is efficiently introduced into the cells which are or are not infected with HBV using a virus vector whereby an object of the present invention can be achieved. With respect to such a vector, retrovirus and vaccinia virus which have been known to transport the desired DNA to the cell and show a high infection efficiency and, in addition, nonvegetative recombinant virus and the like may be used. Particularly, nonvegetative recombinant has an advantage that, although it is to be used biweekly to bimonthly since the recombinant virus is not propagated after being introduced into the desired cells or the like, its amount can be adjusted at that time. Moreover, liposome which is an artificial lipid capsule may be used too.

With respect to a construction method for the vector which is desirable as a pharmaceutical agent of the present invention, the following method may be used. Thus, cDNA of human GnT-III is introduced into an EcoRI site of the pCAGGS vector supplied by Professor Kenichi Yamamura of Kumamoto University whereby an expression vector of GnT-III controlled by actin promoter can be prepared.

FIG. 1 shows a restriction map of the pCAGGS vector.

With respect to replication of the virus, degree of the replication can be determined by, for example, measuring the amount of HBe antigen or HBs antigen which is an antigen related to the virus produced by the treated cells in a medium. Thus, the DNA which is prepared by a linearization of the above GnT-III expression vector with SalI and another DNA which is prepared by a linearization of pMEP (vector having a hygromycin-resisting genes; manufactured by Invitrogen) with BamHI are mixed and introduced into HB611 cells wherein HBV genome gene is integrated in tandem into the above-mentioned Huh-6 cells [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A., 84, 444-448 (1987)] by means of an electroporation. After that, a culture is conducted in a medium containing hygromycin to screen the resisting cell strains. Several cell strains expressing the GnT-III activity prepared as such are selected and the amount of HBs antigen or HBe antigen is measured.

Measurement of HBs antigen or HBe antigen may be conducted, for example, by means of a radioimmunoassay in accordance with a method as reported by the present inventors [International Journal of Cancer, 52, 137-140 (1992)].

It is also possible to obtain an information on replication of virus by measuring the amount of messenger RNA (mRNA) from virus. Thus, the amount of viral mRNA can be evaluated by a northern blot hybridization using a ³² P-labeled viral cDNA as a probe.

The present inventors have found that the expression level of the HBV-proteins in the GnT-III gene containing HBV-integrated HB611 cells is clearly lower than that of the HBV-proteins in the original HBV-integrated HB611 cells.

The pharmaceutical agent of the present invention is useful in a field in which viral diseases are to be treated.

The present invention will now be further illustrated by way of the following examples although the present invention is not limited to those examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Construction of Expression Vector and its Introduction into Cells

cDNA clone C4 containing a whole length of coding region of rat GnT-III [Journal of Biological Chemistry, 267, 18199-18204 (1992)] was digested with EcoRI (manufactured by Takara Shuzo) and cloned in an EcoRI site of pCAGGS vector (provided by Dr. Kenichi Yamamura, Kumamoto University). FIG. 1 shows a restriction map of the pCAGGS vector.

The expression plasmid constructed as such was named GnT-III expression plasmid Act-5. In this GnT-III expression plasmid Act-5, expression of GnT-III will be controlled by an actin promoter. FIG. 2 shows a scheme of GnT-III expression plasmid Act-5. In the drawing, a solid bold line on the upper column (in solid black) shows cDNA of the rat GnT-III while the lower column shows pCAGGS vector (FIG. 1). The area with vertical stripes in the lower column shows an actin promoter while that with oblique stripes shows SV40ori.

The GnT-III expression plasmid Act-5 and pMEP vector (manufactured by Invitrogen; a vector having hygromycin-resistance genes) were digested with Sall (manufactured by Takara Shuzo) and BamHI (manufactured by Takara Shuzo), respectively to linearize, then 20 μg of GnT-III expression plasmid Act-5 and 2 μg of pMEP vector were mixed and were introduced into 5×10⁵ HB611 cells by means of an electroporation using a Gene Pulser (manufactured by Biorad; voltage: 250 volts/0.4 cm; electrostatic capacity: 960 μF). Incidentally, the HB611 cell is a cell in which HBV genome gene is introduced into Huh-6 cell derived from human liver blast edema in tandem [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A., 84, 444-448 (1987)] and was provided by Dr. Kenichi Matsubara, Cell Technology Center, Osaka University.

Selection of the gene-introduced cells was conducted in a medium containing hygromycin (500 μg/ml) and the resisting cell strain was cloned by a dilution method. As a result thereof, three cell strains having a GnT-III activity and three cell strains having no GnT-III activity were obtained. The cells having a GnT-III activity (GnT-III positive cells) were named HB611-GNT-III(1), HB611-GNT-III(2) and HB611-GNT-III(3) while the cells having no GnT-III activity (GnT-III negative cells) were named HB611-hygro(1), HB611-hygro(2) and HB611-hygro(3).

Enzymatic Activity of GnT-III and GnT-V of the Cells

About 5-10×10⁶ cells in a confluent state were collected, washed with a phosphate-buffered physiological saline solution (PBS), suspended in 0.2 ml of the same solution and subjected to an ultrasonication. Each enzymatic activity was measured in such a manner that the resulting ultrasonicated solution subjected to a measurement of the activity of GnT-III, N-acetylglucosaminyl-Transferase IV (GnT-IV) and GnT-V in the cell was measured three times for each cell by a method mentioned in Analytical Biochemistry, 170, 349-354 (1988), Methods in Enzymology, 179, 397-408 (1985) and Journal of Biological Chemistry, 265, 6009-6018 (1990) using an enzyme solution and sugar chain which was subjected to a fluorescent labeling as substrates.

The results are given in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Cells      GnT-III      GnT-IV    GnT-V                                        ______________________________________                                         HB611      9.9 ± 3.4 143 ± 30                                                                              163 ± 23                                    HG611-hygro(1) 8.2 ± 1.7 138 ± 27 181 ± 30                            HG611-hygro(2) 17.0 ± 5.1  237 ± 32 209 ± 22                          HG611-hygro(3) 13.0 ± 2.7   117 ± 4.7 182 ± 11                        HG-611-GNT-III(1)  98.0 ± 17*  145 ± 40 225 ± 18                      HG-611-GNT-III(2) 103.0 ± 9.2*  146 ± 28 179 ± 18                     HG-611-GNT-III(3) 81.0 ± 9.8* 122 ± 11 200 ± 19                     ______________________________________                                    

In the table, * shows a statistical result which was conducted by means of Student's t-test where p<0.01 for HB611 cells. The term p<0.01 means that the possibility where the result is same as that to HB611 is less than 0.01.

As shown in Table 2, the GnT-III activity increased to an extent of about 8 to 10-fold of that of parent strains in the case of GnT-III positive cell. Activities of GnT-IV and GnT-V hardly changed between the parent strain and the transformant.

Then the amount of mRNA of GnT-III was subjected to a northern blot hybridization by a method mentioned in "Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual", Second Edition, by T Maniatis, et al., Chapter 7, pages 39-52, published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1989. As a result of comparison of the amounts of mRNA of GnT-III in HB611 cells and in six kinds of the cells obtained hereinabove, GnT-III was highly expressed in GnT-III positive cells.

Evaluation of HBV Replication

In order to evaluate the expression of HBV-related protein in HB611 cells, amounts of HBs antigen and HBe antigen in the medium were measured using a Radioimmunoassay Kit (manufactured by Otsuka Assay Kenkyusho) by a method reported by the present inventors already [International Journal of Cancer, 52, 137-140 (1992)]. HB611 cells and the transformant thereof were peeled off from the plate using a PBS containing 0.5 mM of EDTA and the numbers of the cells were measured. The amounts of HBs antigen and HBe antigen were expressed in terms of a relative unit per cell. Incidentally, in the case of the transformants, GnT-III positive cells (HB611-GnT-III) and GnT-III negative cells (HB611-hygro) were used.

The results are given in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Cells      Amount of HBs Antigen                                                                         Amount of HBe Antigen                                ______________________________________                                         HB611      30.2           108.0                                                  HB611-hygro 24.0 ± 14.7 95.0 ± 12.9                                      HB611-GNT-III  4.5 ± 3.3* 24.4 ± 8.1*                                  ______________________________________                                    

In the table, * shows a result wherein the statistic treatment was conducted by means of Student's t-test in which p<0.02 to HB611-hygro cells.

As shown in Table 3, the amounts of HBs antigen and HBe antigen in the medium of the GnT-III positive cells were clearly decreased as compared with the case of GnT-III negative cells and parent strains.

Then the expression of the HBV-related mRNA was evaluated by a northern blot hybridization using a method mentioned in "Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, by T. Maniatis et al., Chapter 7, pages 39-52, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1989 using ³² P-labeled HBV whole cDNA as a probe. Expression of the HBV-related mRNA in the HB611 cells and the above-prepared six kinds of cells were compared in terms of the amounts of HBV, β-actin and ribosome RNA (rRNA) and, as a result, it was found that, in GnT-III positive cells, the expression of HBV-related mRNA was also obviously inhibited as compared with GnT-III negative cells and parent strains.

On the other hand, expressions of the mRNA of alphafeto-protein (AFP), albumin and prealbumin protein in the HB611 cells and in the above-prepared six kinds of cells were measured. As a result, in any of the cells, the expressions of AFP, albumin and prealbumin protein were not related to the level of the GnT-III activity.

In accordance with the present invention, a virus replication inhibitor which is characterized in that said inhibitor containing GnT-III or gene thereof increasing the GnT-III activity of virus-infected cells or other tissues as an effective component is offered. Said virus replication inhibitor is useful in the field of therapy of viral diseases.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                    - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES:  4                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH:  1608 ba - #se pairs                                               (B) TYPE:  nucleic a - #cid                                                    (C) STRANDEDNESS:  doub - #le                                                  (D) TOPOLOGY:  linear                                                 - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE:  cDNA to mRNA                                      - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                - - ATG AGA CGC TAC AAG CTT TTT CTC ATG TTC TG - #T ATG GCC GGC CTG                - #45                                                                    Met Arg Arg Tyr Lys Leu Phe Leu Met Phe Cy - #s Met Ala Gly Leu                  1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - TGC CTC ATC TCC TTC CTG CAC TTC TTT AAG AC - #G TTA TCC TAT GTC                - #90                                                                     Cys Leu Ile Ser Phe Leu His Phe Phe Lys Th - #r Leu Ser Tyr Val                                 20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - ACC TTC CCG AGA GAA CTG GCC TCC CTC AGC CC - #T AAC CTC ATA TCC               13 - #5                                                                    Thr Phe Pro Arg Glu Leu Ala Ser Leu Ser Pr - #o Asn Leu Ile Ser                                 35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - AGC TTC TTC TGG AAC AAT GCC CCT GTC ACT CC - #C CAG GCC AGT CCG               18 - #0                                                                    Ser Phe Phe Trp Asn Asn Ala Pro Val Thr Pr - #o Gln Ala Ser Pro                                 50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - GAG CCC GGT GAC CCC GAC TTG TTA CGG ACT CC - #A CTC TAC TCC CAC               22 - #5                                                                    Glu Pro Gly Asp Pro Asp Leu Leu Arg Thr Pr - #o Leu Tyr Ser His                                 65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - TCC CCC CTG CTC CAG CCA CTG TCC CCT AGC AA - #G GCC ACC GAA GAA               27 - #0                                                                    Ser Pro Leu Leu Gln Pro Leu Ser Pro Ser Ly - #s Ala Thr Glu Glu                                 80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - CTG CAC CGG GTG GAC TTC GTG TTG CCG GAG GA - #C ACC ACA GAG TAT               31 - #5                                                                    Leu His Arg Val Asp Phe Val Leu Pro Glu As - #p Thr Thr Glu Tyr                                 95 - #                100 - #                105               - - TTT GTG CGC ACC AAA GCT GGC GGT GTG TGC TT - #C AAA CCA GGT ACC               36 - #0                                                                    Phe Val Arg Thr Lys Ala Gly Gly Val Cys Ph - #e Lys Pro Gly Thr                                110  - #               115  - #               120               - - AGG ATG CTG GAG AAA CCT TCT CCA GGG CGG AC - #A GAG GAG AAG ACC               40 - #5                                                                    Arg Met Leu Glu Lys Pro Ser Pro Gly Arg Th - #r Glu Glu Lys Thr                                125  - #               130  - #               135               - - AAG GTG GCT GAG GGG TCC TCG GTC CGG GGT CC - #T GCT CGG AGG CCT               45 - #0                                                                    Lys Val Ala Glu Gly Ser Ser Val Arg Gly Pr - #o Ala Arg Arg Pro                                140  - #               145  - #               150               - - ATG CGG CAT GTG TTG AGT GCA CGG GAG CGC CT - #G GGA GGC CGG GGC               49 - #5                                                                    Met Arg His Val Leu Ser Ala Arg Glu Arg Le - #u Gly Gly Arg Gly                                155  - #               160  - #               165               - - ACT AGG CGC AAG TGG GTT GAG TGT GTG TGC CT - #G CCA GGC TGG CAC               54 - #0                                                                    Thr Arg Arg Lys Trp Val Glu Cys Val Cys Le - #u Pro Gly Trp His                                170  - #               175  - #               180               - - GGG CCC AGC TGC GGG GTG CCC ACT GTG GTC CA - #G TAT TCC AAC CTG               58 - #5                                                                    Gly Pro Ser Cys Gly Val Pro Thr Val Val Gl - #n Tyr Ser Asn Leu                                185  - #               190  - #               195               - - CCC ACC AAG GAG CGC CTG GTA CCC AGG GAG GT - #G CCG AGG CGG GTT               63 - #0                                                                    Pro Thr Lys Glu Arg Leu Val Pro Arg Glu Va - #l Pro Arg Arg Val                                200  - #               205  - #               210               - - ATC AAC GCC ATC AAC ATC AAC CAT GAG TTC GA - #C CTG CTG GAT GTG               67 - #5                                                                    Ile Asn Ala Ile Asn Ile Asn His Glu Phe As - #p Leu Leu Asp Val                                215  - #               220  - #               225               - - CGC TTC CAT GAG CTG GGC GAT GTT GTG GAC GC - #C TTT GTG GTC TGC               72 - #0                                                                    Arg Phe His Glu Leu Gly Asp Val Val Asp Al - #a Phe Val Val Cys                                230  - #               235  - #               240               - - GAA TCC AAT TTC ACC GCC TAC GGG GAG CCT CG - #G CCG CTC AAG TTC               76 - #5                                                                    Glu Ser Asn Phe Thr Ala Tyr Gly Glu Pro Ar - #g Pro Leu Lys Phe                                245  - #               250  - #               255               - - CGA GAG ATG CTG ACC AAT GGC ACC TTC GAG TA - #C ATC CGC CAC AAG               81 - #0                                                                    Arg Glu Met Leu Thr Asn Gly Thr Phe Glu Ty - #r Ile Arg His Lys                                260  - #               265  - #               270               - - GTG CTC TAC GTC TTC CTG GAC CAC TTC CCA CC - #T GGT GGC CGT CAG               85 - #5                                                                    Val Leu Tyr Val Phe Leu Asp His Phe Pro Pr - #o Gly Gly Arg Gln                                275  - #               280  - #               285               - - GAC GGC TGG ATT GCA GAC GAC TAC CTG CGT AC - #C TTC CTC ACC CAG               90 - #0                                                                    Asp Gly Trp Ile Ala Asp Asp Tyr Leu Arg Th - #r Phe Leu Thr Gln                                290  - #               295  - #               300               - - GAT GGT GTC TCC CGC CTG CGC AAC CTG CGA CC - #T GAT GAC GTC TTT               94 - #5                                                                    Asp Gly Val Ser Arg Leu Arg Asn Leu Arg Pr - #o Asp Asp Val Phe                                305  - #               310  - #               315               - - ATC ATC GAC GAC GCG GAC GAG ATC CCT GCG CG - #T GAT GGT GTG CTG               99 - #0                                                                    Ile Ile Asp Asp Ala Asp Glu Ile Pro Ala Ar - #g Asp Gly Val Leu                                320  - #               325  - #               330               - - TTC CTC AAG CTC TAC GAT GGC TGG ACA GAG CC - #C TTC GCC TTC CAT              1035                                                                        Phe Leu Lys Leu Tyr Asp Gly Trp Thr Glu Pr - #o Phe Ala Phe His                                335  - #               340  - #               345               - - ATG CGC AAG TCC CTG TAT GGT TTC TTT TGG AA - #G CAA CCA GGC ACA              1080                                                                        Met Arg Lys Ser Leu Tyr Gly Phe Phe Trp Ly - #s Gln Pro Gly Thr                                350  - #               355  - #               360               - - CTG GAG GTG GTG TCA GGC TGC ACC ATT GAC AT - #G CTG CAG GCT GTG              1125                                                                        Leu Glu Val Val Ser Gly Cys Thr Ile Asp Me - #t Leu Gln Ala Val                                365  - #               370  - #               375               - - TAT GGG CTG GAC GGC ATC CGC CTG CGC CGC CG - #T CAG TAC TAC ACC              1170                                                                        Tyr Gly Leu Asp Gly Ile Arg Leu Arg Arg Ar - #g Gln Tyr Tyr Thr                                380  - #               385  - #               390               - - ATG CCC AAC TTT CGA CAG TAT GAG AAC CGC AC - #C GGC CAC ATC CTA              1215                                                                        Met Pro Asn Phe Arg Gln Tyr Glu Asn Arg Th - #r Gly His Ile Leu                                395  - #               400  - #               405               - - GTG CAG TGG TCT CTC GGC AGC CCC CTG CAC TT - #C GCG GGC TGG CAC              1260                                                                        Val Gln Trp Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Leu His Ph - #e Ala Gly Trp His                                410  - #               415  - #               420               - - TGC TCC TGG TGC TTC ACA CCC GAG GGC ATC TA - #C TTC AAA CTC GTG              1305                                                                        Cys Ser Trp Cys Phe Thr Pro Glu Gly Ile Ty - #r Phe Lys Leu Val                                425  - #               430  - #               435               - - TCG GCC CAG AAT GGT GAC TTC CCC CGC TGG GG - #T GAC TAC GAG GAC              1350                                                                        Ser Ala Gln Asn Gly Asp Phe Pro Arg Trp Gl - #y Asp Tyr Glu Asp                                440  - #               445  - #               450               - - AAG AGG GAC CTC AAT TAC ATC CGA AGC TTG AT - #T CGC ACT GGG GGA              1395                                                                        Lys Arg Asp Leu Asn Tyr Ile Arg Ser Leu Il - #e Arg Thr Gly Gly                                455  - #               460  - #               465               - - TGG TTC GAC GGC ACG CAG CAG GAG TAC CCT CC - #T GCA GAC CCC AGT              1440                                                                        Trp Phe Asp Gly Thr Gln Gln Glu Tyr Pro Pr - #o Ala Asp Pro Ser                                470  - #               475  - #               480               - - GAA CAC ATG TAT GCT CCT AAG TAC CTG CTC AA - #G AAC TAT GAC CAG              1485                                                                        Glu His Met Tyr Ala Pro Lys Tyr Leu Leu Ly - #s Asn Tyr Asp Gln                                485  - #               490  - #               495               - - TTC CGC TAC TTG CTC GAA AAT CCC TAC CGG GA - #G CCC AAG AGC ACT              1530                                                                        Phe Arg Tyr Leu Leu Glu Asn Pro Tyr Arg Gl - #u Pro Lys Ser Thr                                500  - #               505  - #               510               - - GTA GAG GGT GGG CGC CGG AAC CAG GGC TCA GA - #C GGA AGG TCA TCT              1575                                                                        Val Glu Gly Gly Arg Arg Asn Gln Gly Ser As - #p Gly Arg Ser Ser                                515  - #               520  - #               525               - - GCT GTC AGG GGC AAG TTG GAT ACA ACG GAG GG - #C                  -       #       1608                                                                     Ala Val Arg Gly Lys Leu Asp Thr Thr Glu Gl - #y                                                530  - #               535                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH:  1593 ba - #se pairs                                               (B) TYPE:  nucleic a - #cid                                                    (C) STRANDEDNESS:  doub - #le                                                  (D) TOPOLOGY:  linear                                                 - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE:  cDNA to mRNA                                      - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                - - ATG AGA CGC TAC AAG CTC TTT CTC ATG TTC TG - #T ATG GCC GGC CTG                - #45                                                                    Met Arg Arg Tyr Lys Leu Phe Leu Met Phe Cy - #s Met Ala Gly Leu                  1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - TGC CTC ATC TCC TTC CTG CAC TTC TTC AAG AC - #C CTG TCC TAT GTC                - #90                                                                     Cys Leu Ile Ser Phe Leu His Phe Phe Lys Th - #r Leu Ser Tyr Val                                 20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - ACC TTC CCC CGA GAA CTG GCC TCC CTC AGC CC - #T AAC CTG GTG TCC               13 - #5                                                                    Thr Phe Pro Arg Glu Leu Ala Ser Leu Ser Pr - #o Asn Leu Val Ser                                 35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - AGC TTT TTC TGG AAC AAT GCC CCG GTC ACG CC - #C CAG GCC AGC CCC               18 - #0                                                                    Ser Phe Phe Trp Asn Asn Ala Pro Val Thr Pr - #o Gln Ala Ser Pro                                 50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - GAG CCA GGA GGC CCT GAC CTG CTG CGT ACC CC - #A CTC TAC TCC CAC               22 - #5                                                                    Glu Pro Gly Gly Pro Asp Leu Leu Arg Thr Pr - #o Leu Tyr Ser His                                 65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - TCG CCC CTG CTG CAG CCG CTG CCG CCC AGC AA - #G GCG GCC GAG GAG               27 - #0                                                                    Ser Pro Leu Leu Gln Pro Leu Pro Pro Ser Ly - #s Ala Ala Glu Glu                                 80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - CTC CAC CGG GTG GAC TTG GTG CTG CCC GAG GA - #C ACC ACC GAG TAT               31 - #5                                                                    Leu His Arg Val Asp Leu Val Leu Pro Glu As - #p Thr Thr Glu Tyr                                 95 - #                100 - #                105               - - TTC GTG CGC ACC AAG GCC GGC GGC GTC TGC TT - #C AAA CCC GGC ACC               36 - #0                                                                    Phe Val Arg Thr Lys Ala Gly Gly Val Cys Ph - #e Lys Pro Gly Thr                                110  - #               115  - #               120               - - AAG ATG CTG GAG AGG CCG CCC CCG GGA CGG CC - #G GAG GAG AAG CCT               40 - #5                                                                    Lys Met Leu Glu Arg Pro Pro Pro Gly Arg Pr - #o Glu Glu Lys Pro                                125  - #               130  - #               135               - - GAG GGG GCC AAC GGC TCC TCG GCC CGG CGG CC - #A CCC CGG TAC CTC               45 - #0                                                                    Glu Gly Ala Asn Gly Ser Ser Ala Arg Arg Pr - #o Pro Arg Tyr Leu                                140  - #               145  - #               150               - - CTG AGC GCC CGG GAG CGC ACG GGG GGC CGA GG - #C GCC CGG CGC AAG               49 - #5                                                                    Leu Ser Ala Arg Glu Arg Thr Gly Gly Arg Gl - #y Ala Arg Arg Lys                                155  - #               160  - #               165               - - TGG GTG GAG TGC GTG TGC CTG CCC GGC TGG CA - #C GGA CCC AGC TGC               54 - #0                                                                    Trp Val Glu Cys Val Cys Leu Pro Gly Trp Hi - #s Gly Pro Ser Cys                                170  - #               175  - #               180               - - GGC GTG CCC ACT GTG GTG CAG TAC TCC AAC CT - #G CCC ACC AAG GAG               58 - #5                                                                    Gly Val Pro Thr Val Val Gln Tyr Ser Asn Le - #u Pro Thr Lys Glu                                185  - #               190  - #               195               - - CGG CTG GTG CCC AGG GAG GTG CCG CGC CGC GT - #C ATC AAC GCC ATC               63 - #0                                                                    Arg Leu Val Pro Arg Glu Val Pro Arg Arg Va - #l Ile Asn Ala Ile                                200  - #               205  - #               210               - - AAC GTC AAC CAC GAG TTC GAC CTG CTG GAC GT - #G CGC TTC CAC GAG               67 - #5                                                                    Asn Val Asn His Glu Phe Asp Leu Leu Asp Va - #l Arg Phe His Glu                                215  - #               220  - #               225               - - CTG GGC GAC GTG GTG GAC GCC TTT GTG GTG TG - #C GAG TCC AAC TTC               72 - #0                                                                    Leu Gly Asp Val Val Asp Ala Phe Val Val Cy - #s Glu Ser Asn Phe                                230  - #               235  - #               240               - - ACG GCT TAT GGG GAG CCG CGG CCG CTC AAG TT - #C CGG GAG ATG CTG               76 - #5                                                                    Thr Ala Tyr Gly Glu Pro Arg Pro Leu Lys Ph - #e Arg Glu Met Leu                                245  - #               250  - #               255               - - ACC AAT GGC ACC TTC GAG TAC ATC CGC CAC AA - #G GTG CTC TAT GTC               81 - #0                                                                    Thr Asn Gly Thr Phe Glu Tyr Ile Arg His Ly - #s Val Leu Tyr Val                                260  - #               265  - #               270               - - TTC CTG GAC CAC TTC CCG CCC GGC GGC CGG CA - #G GAC GGC TGG ATC               85 - #5                                                                    Phe Leu Asp His Phe Pro Pro Gly Gly Arg Gl - #n Asp Gly Trp Ile                                275  - #               280  - #               285               - - GCC GAC GAC TAC CTG CGC ACC TTC CTC ACC CA - #G GAC GGC GTC TCG               90 - #0                                                                    Ala Asp Asp Tyr Leu Arg Thr Phe Leu Thr Gl - #n Asp Gly Val Ser                                290  - #               295  - #               300               - - CGG CTG CGC AAC CTG CGG CCC GAC GAC GTC TT - #C ATC ATT GAC GAT               94 - #5                                                                    Arg Leu Arg Asn Leu Arg Pro Asp Asp Val Ph - #e Ile Ile Asp Asp                                305  - #               310  - #               315               - - GCG GAC GAG ATC CCG GCC CGT GAC GGC GTC CT - #T TTC CTC AAG CTC               99 - #0                                                                    Ala Asp Glu Ile Pro Ala Arg Asp Gly Val Le - #u Phe Leu Lys Leu                                320  - #               325  - #               330               - - TAC GAT GGC TGG ACC GAG CCC TTC GCC TTC CA - #C ATG CGC ACG TCG              1035                                                                        Tyr Asp Gly Trp Thr Glu Pro Phe Ala Phe Hi - #s Met Arg Thr Ser                                335  - #               340  - #               345               - - CTC TAC GGC TTC TTC TGG AAG CAG CCG GGC AC - #C CTG GAG GTG GTG              1080                                                                        Leu Tyr Gly Phe Phe Trp Lys Gln Pro Gly Th - #r Leu Glu Val Val                                350  - #               355  - #               360               - - TCA GGC TGC ACG GTG GAC ATG CTG CAG GCA GT - #G TAT GGG CTG GAC              1125                                                                        Ser Gly Cys Thr Val Asp Met Leu Gln Ala Va - #l Tyr Gly Leu Asp                                365  - #               370  - #               375               - - GGC ATC CGC CTG CGC CGC CGC CAG TAC TAC AC - #C ATG CCC AAC TTC              1170                                                                        Gly Ile Arg Leu Arg Arg Arg Gln Tyr Tyr Th - #r Met Pro Asn Phe                                380  - #               385  - #               390               - - AGA CAG TAT GAG AAC CGC ACC GGC CAC ATC CT - #G GTG CAG TGG TCG              1215                                                                        Arg Gln Tyr Glu Asn Arg Thr Gly His Ile Le - #u Val Gln Trp Ser                                395  - #               400  - #               405               - - CTG GGC AGC CCC CTG CAC TTC GCC GGC TGG CA - #C TGC TCC TGG TGC              1260                                                                        Leu Gly Ser Pro Leu His Phe Ala Gly Trp Hi - #s Cys Ser Trp Cys                                410  - #               415  - #               420               - - TTC ACG CCC GAG GGC ATC TAC TTC AAG CTC GT - #G TCC GCC CAG AAT              1305                                                                        Phe Thr Pro Glu Gly Ile Tyr Phe Lys Leu Va - #l Ser Ala Gln Asn                                425  - #               430  - #               435               - - GGC GAC TTC CCA CGC TGG GGT GAC TAC GAG GA - #C AAG CGG GAC CTG              1350                                                                        Gly Asp Phe Pro Arg Trp Gly Asp Tyr Glu As - #p Lys Arg Asp Leu                                440  - #               445  - #               450               - - AAC TAC ATC CGC GGC CTG ATC CGC ACC GGG GG - #C TGG TTC GAC GGC              1395                                                                        Asn Tyr Ile Arg Gly Leu Ile Arg Thr Gly Gl - #y Trp Phe Asp Gly                                455  - #               460  - #               465               - - ACG CAG CAG GAG TAC CCG CCT GCA GAC CCC AG - #C GAG CAC ATG TAT              1440                                                                        Thr Gln Gln Glu Tyr Pro Pro Ala Asp Pro Se - #r Glu His Met Tyr                                470  - #               475  - #               480               - - GCG CCC AAG TAC CTG CTG AAG AAC TAC GAC CG - #G TTC CAC TAC CTG              1485                                                                        Ala Pro Lys Tyr Leu Leu Lys Asn Tyr Asp Ar - #g Phe His Tyr Leu                                485  - #               490  - #               495               - - CTG GAC AAC CCC TAC CAG GAG CCC AGG AGC AC - #G GCG GCG GGC GGG              1530                                                                        Leu Asp Asn Pro Tyr Gln Glu Pro Arg Ser Th - #r Ala Ala Gly Gly                                500  - #               505  - #               510               - - TGG CGC CAC AGG GGT CCC GAG GGA AGG CCG CC - #C GCC CGG GGC AAA              1575                                                                        Trp Arg His Arg Gly Pro Glu Gly Arg Pro Pr - #o Ala Arg Gly Lys                                515  - #               520  - #               525               - - CTG GAC GAG GCG GAA GTC         - #                  - #                       - #1593                                                                   Leu Asp Glu Ala Glu Val                                                                        530                                                             - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH:  536 ami - #no acid residues                                       (B) TYPE:  amino aci - #d                                                      (C) STRANDEDNESS:  sing - #le                                                  (D) TOPOLOGY:  linear                                                 - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: polypeptide                                        - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                - - Met Arg Arg Tyr Lys Leu Phe Leu Met Phe Cy - #s Met Ala Gly Leu             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Cys Leu Ile Ser Phe Leu His Phe Phe Lys Th - #r Leu Ser Tyr Val                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Thr Phe Pro Arg Glu Leu Ala Ser Leu Ser Pr - #o Asn Leu Ile Ser                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Ser Phe Phe Trp Asn Asn Ala Pro Val Thr Pr - #o Gln Ala Ser Pro                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Glu Pro Gly Asp Pro Asp Leu Leu Arg Thr Pr - #o Leu Tyr Ser His                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ser Pro Leu Leu Gln Pro Leu Ser Pro Ser Ly - #s Ala Thr Glu Glu                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Leu His Arg Val Asp Phe Val Leu Pro Glu As - #p Thr Thr Glu Tyr                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Phe Val Arg Thr Lys Ala Gly Gly Val Cys Ph - #e Lys Pro Gly Thr                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Arg Met Leu Glu Lys Pro Ser Pro Gly Arg Th - #r Glu Glu Lys Thr                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Lys Val Ala Glu Gly Ser Ser Val Arg Gly Pr - #o Ala Arg Arg Pro                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Met Arg His Val Leu Ser Ala Arg Glu Arg Le - #u Gly Gly Arg Gly                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Thr Arg Arg Lys Trp Val Glu Cys Val Cys Le - #u Pro Gly Trp His                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Gly Pro Ser Cys Gly Val Pro Thr Val Val Gl - #n Tyr Ser Asn Leu                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - Pro Thr Lys Glu Arg Leu Val Pro Arg Glu Va - #l Pro Arg Arg Val                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Ile Asn Ala Ile Asn Ile Asn His Glu Phe As - #p Leu Leu Asp Val                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - Arg Phe His Glu Leu Gly Asp Val Val Asp Al - #a Phe Val Val Cys                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Glu Ser Asn Phe Thr Ala Tyr Gly Glu Pro Ar - #g Pro Leu Lys Phe                           245  - #               250  - #               255               - - Arg Glu Met Leu Thr Asn Gly Thr Phe Glu Ty - #r Ile Arg His Lys                           260  - #               265  - #               270               - - Val Leu Tyr Val Phe Leu Asp His Phe Pro Pr - #o Gly Gly Arg Gln                           275  - #               280  - #               285               - - Asp Gly Trp Ile Ala Asp Asp Tyr Leu Arg Th - #r Phe Leu Thr Gln                           290  - #               295  - #               300               - - Asp Gly Val Ser Arg Leu Arg Asn Leu Arg Pr - #o Asp Asp Val Phe                           305  - #               310  - #               315               - - Ile Ile Asp Asp Ala Asp Glu Ile Pro Ala Ar - #g Asp Gly Val Leu                           320  - #               325  - #               330               - - Phe Leu Lys Leu Tyr Asp Gly Trp Thr Glu Pr - #o Phe Ala Phe His                           335  - #               340  - #               345               - - Met Arg Lys Ser Leu Tyr Gly Phe Phe Trp Ly - #s Gln Pro Gly Thr                           350  - #               355  - #               360               - - Leu Glu Val Val Ser Gly Cys Thr Ile Asp Me - #t Leu Gln Ala Val                           365  - #               370  - #               375               - - Tyr Gly Leu Asp Gly Ile Arg Leu Arg Arg Ar - #g Gln Tyr Tyr Thr                           380  - #               385  - #               390               - - Met Pro Asn Phe Arg Gln Tyr Glu Asn Arg Th - #r Gly His Ile Leu                           395  - #               400  - #               405               - - Val Gln Trp Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Leu His Ph - #e Ala Gly Trp His                           410  - #               415  - #               420               - - Cys Ser Trp Cys Phe Thr Pro Glu Gly Ile Ty - #r Phe Lys Leu Val                           425  - #               430  - #               435               - - Ser Ala Gln Asn Gly Asp Phe Pro Arg Trp Gl - #y Asp Tyr Glu Asp                           440  - #               445  - #               450               - - Lys Arg Asp Leu Asn Tyr Ile Arg Ser Leu Il - #e Arg Thr Gly Gly                           455  - #               460  - #               465               - - Trp Phe Asp Gly Thr Gln Gln Glu Tyr Pro Pr - #o Ala Asp Pro Ser                           470  - #               475  - #               480               - - Glu His Met Tyr Ala Pro Lys Tyr Leu Leu Ly - #s Asn Tyr Asp Gln                           485  - #               490  - #               495               - - Phe Arg Tyr Leu Leu Glu Asn Pro Tyr Arg Gl - #u Pro Lys Ser Thr                           500  - #               505  - #               510               - - Val Glu Gly Gly Arg Arg Asn Gln Gly Ser As - #p Gly Arg Ser Ser                           515  - #               520  - #               525               - - Ala Val Arg Gly Lys Leu Asp Thr Thr Glu Gl - #y                                           530  - #               535                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH:  531 ami - #no acid residues                                       (B) TYPE:  amino aci - #d                                                      (C) STRANDEDNESS:  sing - #le                                                  (D) TOPOLOGY:  linear                                                 - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE:  polypeptide                                       - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                - - Met Arg Arg Tyr Lys Leu Phe Leu Met Phe Cy - #s Met Ala Gly Leu             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Cys Leu Ile Ser Phe Leu His Phe Phe Lys Th - #r Leu Ser Tyr Val                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Thr Phe Pro Arg Glu Leu Ala Ser Leu Ser Pr - #o Asn Leu Val Ser                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Ser Phe Phe Trp Asn Asn Ala Pro Val Thr Pr - #o Gln Ala Ser Pro                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Glu Pro Gly Gly Pro Asp Leu Leu Arg Thr Pr - #o Leu Tyr Ser His                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ser Pro Leu Leu Gln Pro Leu Pro Pro Ser Ly - #s Ala Ala Glu Glu                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Leu His Arg Val Asp Leu Val Leu Pro Glu As - #p Thr Thr Glu Tyr                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Phe Val Arg Thr Lys Ala Gly Gly Val Cys Ph - #e Lys Pro Gly Thr                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Lys Met Leu Glu Arg Pro Pro Pro Gly Arg Pr - #o Glu Glu Lys Pro                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Glu Gly Ala Asn Gly Ser Ser Ala Arg Arg Pr - #o Pro Arg Tyr Leu                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Leu Ser Ala Arg Glu Arg Thr Gly Gly Arg Gl - #y Ala Arg Arg Lys                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Trp Val Glu Cys Val Cys Leu Pro Gly Trp Hi - #s Gly Pro Ser Cys                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Gly Val Pro Thr Val Val Gln Tyr Ser Asn Le - #u Pro Thr Lys Glu                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - Arg Leu Val Pro Arg Glu Val Pro Arg Arg Va - #l Ile Asn Ala Ile                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Asn Val Asn His Glu Phe Asp Leu Leu Asp Va - #l Arg Phe His Glu                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - Leu Gly Asp Val Val Asp Ala Phe Val Val Cy - #s Glu Ser Asn Phe                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Thr Ala Tyr Gly Glu Pro Arg Pro Leu Lys Ph - #e Arg Glu Met Leu                           245  - #               250  - #               255               - - Thr Asn Gly Thr Phe Glu Tyr Ile Arg His Ly - #s Val Leu Tyr Val                           260  - #               265  - #               270               - - Phe Leu Asp His Phe Pro Pro Gly Gly Arg Gl - #n Asp Gly Trp Ile                           275  - #               280  - #               285               - - Ala Asp Asp Tyr Leu Arg Thr Phe Leu Thr Gl - #n Asp Gly Val Ser                           290  - #               295  - #               300               - - Arg Leu Arg Asn Leu Arg Pro Asp Asp Val Ph - #e Ile Ile Asp Asp                           305  - #               310  - #               315               - - Ala Asp Glu Ile Pro Ala Arg Asp Gly Val Le - #u Phe Leu Lys Leu                           320  - #               325  - #               330               - - Tyr Asp Gly Trp Thr Glu Pro Phe Ala Phe Hi - #s Met Arg Thr Ser                           335  - #               340  - #               345               - - Leu Tyr Gly Phe Phe Trp Lys Gln Pro Gly Th - #r Leu Glu Val Val                           350  - #               355  - #               360               - - Ser Gly Cys Thr Val Asp Met Leu Gln Ala Va - #l Tyr Gly Leu Asp                           365  - #               370  - #               375               - - Gly Ile Arg Leu Arg Arg Arg Gln Tyr Tyr Th - #r Met Pro Asn Phe                           380  - #               385  - #               390               - - Arg Gln Tyr Glu Asn Arg Thr Gly His Ile Le - #u Val Gln Trp Ser                           395  - #               400  - #               405               - - Leu Gly Ser Pro Leu His Phe Ala Gly Trp Hi - #s Cys Ser Trp Cys                           410  - #               415  - #               420               - - Phe Thr Pro Glu Gly Ile Tyr Phe Lys Leu Va - #l Ser Ala Gln Asn                           425  - #               430  - #               435               - - Gly Asp Phe Pro Arg Trp Gly Asp Tyr Glu As - #p Lys Arg Asp Leu                           440  - #               445  - #               450               - - Asn Tyr Ile Arg Gly Leu Ile Arg Thr Gly Gl - #y Trp Phe Asp Gly                           455  - #               460  - #               465               - - Thr Gln Gln Glu Tyr Pro Pro Ala Asp Pro Se - #r Glu His Met Tyr                           470  - #               475  - #               480               - - Ala Pro Lys Tyr Leu Leu Lys Asn Tyr Asp Ar - #g Phe His Tyr Leu                           485  - #               490  - #               495               - - Leu Asp Asn Pro Tyr Gln Glu Pro Arg Ser Th - #r Ala Ala Gly Gly                           500  - #               505  - #               510               - - Trp Arg His Arg Gly Pro Glu Gly Arg Pro Pr - #o Ala Arg Gly Lys                           515  - #               520  - #               525               - - Leu Asp Glu Ala Glu Val                                                                   530                                                           __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of inhibiting the replication of a Hepatitis B virus in vitro comprising introducing in vitro a DNA encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 3 or 4, into one or more cells infected with the virus.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the DNA comprises the nucleic acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or
 2. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the DNA is integrated into a vector.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the vector is a plasmid vector.
 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the vector is a virus vector.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the virus vector is a retro-virus vector.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the DNA is introduced via a virus or liposome.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the DNA is introduced via a retrovirus or vaccinia virus.
 9. A method of inhibiting the replication of a Hepatitis B virus in vitro comprising introducing in vitro a composition comprising (1) a DNA encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 3 or 4, and (2) a preparation agent selected from the group consisting of a carrier, a filler and a stabilizer, into one or more cells infected with the virus.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the DNA comprises the nucleic acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No: 1 or
 2. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the DNA is integrated into a vector.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the vector is a plasmid vector.
 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the vector is a virus vector.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the virus vector is a retro-virus vector. 